Professional development is a popular topic these days. We have the available resources to learn new skills with a click of a button. Although most Bar Associations are providing webinars and online trainings, options for legal professionals in the Caribbean to increase their professional or industry knowledge is somewhat limited.
But why is professional development such a vital aspect of a law firm, legal departments, or any business industry for that matter?
From the organization’s standpoint, they want employees who are well-versed in their industry’s best practices and seek out new ways to innovate and evolve. Investing in their employees also leads to better retention, happier employees, and more efficiency.
As an individual contributor to your company, you need to invest in yourself through professional development. According to Forbes, 94% of employers feel training and upskilling are critical, and 71% of employees feel they must continue to learn new skills to meet the demands of their role. There is a mutual agreement that continually learning new skills or brushing up on current skills is a worthwhile endeavor.
There are several types of professional development to consider, each with its own merits and challenges.
Continuing Education: Lawyers could enroll in continuing legal education courses at various universities and other private organizations accredited by the CPD. One excellent resource is The University of Law, which offers various courses for all levels. Lawyers can use these classes to hone their skills using the Professional Skills Course modules, specific electives, or through a professional development track featuring tax, corporate and banking legal courses—many of which can now be taken completely online. Other courses can contribute to growth in your profession and are of great benefit to legal or other professionals, such as courses in leadership and time management.
On-the-Job Training: This option is for those with initiative who are willing to take on extra work or “stretch assignments” to gain more knowledge and insight. Stretch assignments entail the employee taking on a task that they know at a novice level and attempting to stretch themselves—with guidance and support from their supervisor—to complete at an advanced level. They then review the steps they took to enhance their understanding of the process and continue to repeat it until they are an expert themselves.
Communities of Practice: This method involves learning with a group of people who are all working toward a similar understanding of a particular topic. This can be done in-person in weekly meetings and workshops where the cohort collaborates and problem solves on the way to a solution. It can also be done virtually, where the group works independently but engages in discussion posts within a listserv or online community, such as Facebook or LinkedIn groups.
Being Mentored: It takes courage to ask someone to formally be your mentor and take you under their wing, but this is an extremely effective form of professional development. Ideally, your mentor is someone in your field whom you aspire to be like or someday hold a similar job title as. Mentors provide excellent insight as someone who may have once been in your shoes and can help guide you from making the same mistakes they did. They also can challenge you to reflect on your goals and push you to achieve them, even when you doubt yourself. Mentors can be a powerful ally in your professional development.
The best advice when seeking to begin professional development is to take initiative! Don’t wait for the company to offer workshops—inquire about how much time and budget is available for employees to upskill and learn. The assertiveness of this request will show that you are eager to learn and grow professionally, and those at the executive level will take notice. Lifelong learners make the best employees.